PEARL Bloodstock’s Karpino (Andreas Wöhler/Oisin Murphy) ran out a most convincing winner of the Group 2 Mehl-Mülhens-Rennen (German 2000 Guineas) at Cologne on Monday. It was a first classic winner for the talented young jockey, now under contract to Pearl Bloodstock, and the associated Qatar Racing but the trainer is an old hand and this was his umpteenth German classic winner.

Wöhler knows a good horse when he sees one, and he has made no secret of his high opinion of this Cape Cross colt, who was bred by Gestüt Fährhof and sold to Sheikh Fahad after winning his maiden at Hoppegarten on his only start last year.